No language has mastered the art of cursing quite like Yiddish. If you want a riposte to a slight or a snub, then Lita Epstein’s, If you can’t say anything nice, say it in Yiddish (Robson Press, £8.99), has an insult or imprecation for any occasion.

Here are a few: “May your enemies sprain their ankles dancing on your grave”; “May worms hold a wedding in your stomach and invite their relatives from all over”; “May you be a lamp: hang by day, burn by night and be snuffed out in the morning”.